The measure to allow electric cooperatives to provide internet service to rural areas was led by one of the state's (few) top Democratic elected leaders. It was accepted promptly and wholeheartedly by the GOP leadership and an overwhelming majority of Republican lawmakers.

How the heck did that happen?

Democratic Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley's rural broadband campaign should be taught as a case study in political science classes. He turned the lack of internet service in rural Mississippi into a populist political juggernaut that flattened partisan opposition and some pretty powerful big-money lobbies — the cable industry, telecoms.

Mississippi's GOP leadership appeared politically afraid to oppose or even tinker much with the proposal, even with some big lobbyists tugging at their hems. Of all things, the Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves-led Senate did not alter the House bill. Will wonders never cease?

Presley used the snowball method.

I recall he started decrying the lack of services and infrastructure in general for rural areas several years ago. And Presley puts in the shoe leather. He'll hold a town hall meeting in a heartbeat, seems like any time more than five constituents gather up.

About a year ago, he started working the rural broadband issue hard, tapping into some pent-up frustration in rural Mississippi.

He created a task force that ended up with 1,310 members over 33 counties. That, my friends, is a task force sure to get any elected politician's attention.

He got 60 county boards and 70 city councils to pass resolutions in favor of allowing rural co-ops to provide internet service. That, too, is something guaranteed to get the full attention of elected lawmakers. They started getting calls and letters from their constituents.

At first, the electric co-ops themselves were sorta lukewarm on the proposal. They succumbed to the irresistible grassroots force Presley amassed. He brought Farm Bureau, Realtors, AARP and other groups on board, enough lobby might to counter cable and telecoms.

Then, Presley did something I believe was key to his effort: He started letting it be known months ago that he was not seeking a higher office, but planned to stay put as elected Northern District public service commissioner.

Presley has long been considered a Democratic contender for statewide public office and for several election cycles there have been rumors of him running for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, Congress — you name it.

If there had been a whiff of the rural broadband issue being part of higher political ambitions for Presley for 2019, I believe Republican leaders would have snuffed it out no matter how many rural folk or county supervisors bent their ears about it.

As it was, the GOP leaders vocally endorsed the measure, and appeared to move promptly to move it on and off their plates. It passed with less muss and fuss and argument than most any major initiative any of the Republican leadership has pushed recently.

Bipartisanship at the state Capitol has become rare as hen's teeth, and even intra-party quibbling on major issues has become more and more common.

For a major initiative brought by a Democratic leader to move through the political system is noteworthy.